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The Mitochondrial Genome and a 60‐kb Nuclear DNA Segment from Naegleria fowleri , the Causative Agent of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis
Author(s) -
Herman Emily K.,
Greninger Alexander L.,
Visvesvara Govinda S.,
MarcianoCabral Francine,
Dacks Joel B.,
Chiu Charles Y.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/jeu.12022
Subject(s) - naegleria fowleri , biology , genome , nuclear gene , naegleria , meningoencephalitis , mitochondrial dna , genetics , gene , dispar , horizontal gene transfer , virology , protozoa , entamoeba histolytica
N aegleria fowleri is a unicellular eukaryote causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a neuropathic disease killing 99% of those infected, usually within 7–14 days. Naegleria fowleri is found globally in regions including the US and Australia. The genome of the related nonpathogenic species Naegleria gruberi has been sequenced, but the genetic basis for N . fowleri pathogenicity is unclear. To generate such insight, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial genome and a 60‐kb segment of nuclear genome from N . fowleri . The mitochondrial genome is highly similar to its counterpart in N . gruberi in gene complement and organization, while distinct lack of synteny is observed for the nuclear segments. Even in this short (60‐kb) segment, we identified examples of potential factors for pathogenesis, including ten novel N . fowleri ‐specific genes. We also identified a homolog of cathepsin B; proteases proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of diverse eukaryotic pathogens, including N . fowleri . Finally, we demonstrate a likely case of horizontal gene transfer between N . fowleri and two unrelated amoebae, one of which causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. This initial look into the N . fowleri nuclear genome has revealed several examples of potential pathogenesis factors, improving our understanding of a neglected pathogen of increasing global importance.